A veteran of Dunkirk, Len covered every blade of grass for Saints which seeing he was a goalkeeper was amazing.

Born in Southampton in 1919, Len was spotted playing in the Southampton boys team and was signed as a pro in 1936, it would be the start of a union which would last nearly 50 years.

His playing career at the Dell spanned 15 years till he joined Basingstoke in 1953, but in that time he played only 52 games,  he made his first team debut in the last game of the 1937/38 season and although he started the next season as first choice, Sam Warhurst won back his place and that was the last season before a bigger kick off across the Channel.

At the outbreak of the War Len joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and at Dunkirk stayed behind to tend the wounded so spent the duration in a POW camp in Poland

After being repatriated Len rejoined Saints and over the next seven years spent most of his time as the reserve team keeper, his best period came at the end of the 46/47 season running on into the 47/48 when he established himself as first choice during this period he played 30 of his 48 league games but from then on it was only the odd sporadic appearance for Len as a succession of keepers came and went, his last game was in 1951/52 some 15 years after joining the club, the following season he struggled to get a game in the reserves and retired from the full time game to become a groundsman at the Sports Centre playing a bit of non league with Basingstoke Town as well.

Afte rlearning his trade at the "Sporty"he returned to the Dell as groundsman in 1962, a familiar figure in and around the Dell, supporters would see him prodding the pitch at half time in his trademark overcoat and wellies whilst during the week local residents were used to the sight of Len cycling to and from the ground from his home just off Winchester Road.

A jovial character Len cared lovingly for the Dell pitch for 22 years, finally retiring in the summer of 1984 aged 65 after perhaps seeing some of the best football ever played on it.

Sadly for len retirement would not last that long and he died only two years later at the age of 0nly 67, it would take a very old Saints fan to remember much of len as a player, but for those who watched the team in the 60's & 70's he was a larger than life figure and the type of character that football clubs usually always had around, sadly you dont get many of them any more.             

Photo: Action Images

Kiwifiedpom added 13:08 - Jun 29 I remember Len and Sam Warhurst. In fact it was after watching them both I decided I would like to be a 'keeper.
0

mickyt7 added 12:50 - Jul 1 I had the pleasure of sharing Len's Tea Hut when I was an apprentice decorator working at the Dell in the late seventies and early eighties. What a man, understated, but truely deserving of the title "Heroe". RIP
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Queens Park Rangers Polls